Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: The High Court of Sikkim closed the second quarter of 2026 with 306 pending cases. The backlog grew. Official data shows 291 cases were pending when the period started in April. Filings are now outpacing the court's ability to clear them.
The court took in 66 new cases between April and June, consisting of 48 civil matters and 18 criminal filings. Judges managed to close 51 cases, which breaks down to 37 civil and 14 criminal matters. Despite this work, the total number of pending cases rose by 15. The court cleared about 77 per cent of the new cases it received during the quarter.
Civil filings sit at the heart of the pressure. The court started with 204 civil cases, added 48, and closed 37, leaving a total of 215 active files. Criminal dockets also saw an uptick. The court held 87 criminal cases, registered 18 new ones, and finished 14, bringing the criminal backlog to 91 at the end of June.
Staffing shortages complicate the situation. The court maintains a sanctioned strength of three judges, but only two positions are filled. One seat remains empty. The Deputy Registrar (J) of the High Court of Sikkim, Gangtok, signed the statement releasing these quarterly figures, noting that the court "disposed of 51 cases against 66 fresh filings during the quarter."
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